Near Dallas in Paulding County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
New Hope Church Cemetery
"The Hell Hole"
— Atlanta Campaign Heritage Trail —
Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 19, 2019
1. New Hope Church Cemetery Marker
Inscription.
New Hope Church Cemetery. "The Hell Hole". The cemetery and former sanctuary for New Hope Church became parts of a battlefield on Wednesday, May 25, 1864. The Federal 20th Corps, commanded by Major General Joseph Hooker, attacked Confederate Major General Alexander P. Stewart's division. Brigadier General Marcellus A. Stovall's Georgia brigade, led that day by Colonel Abda Johnson of the 40th Georgia Infantry Regiment, defended this portion of the Confederate line.
Three days earlier Union Major General William T. Sherman began moving his armies toward Dallas and away from their Western and Atlantic Railroad supply line. Sherman's intent was to march around the “left flank” of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's army. General Hooker's corps was the first sizeable Federal unit to approach the New Hope crossroads. Sherman ordered Hooker to attack, believing only light enemy resistance opposed them. But the Confederates had also moved quickly to the New Hope crossroads and were well prepared.
The Alabama brigade of Confederate Brigadier General Henry D. Clayton was positioned to the east of Colonel Johnson's. Clayton used log and dirt entrenchments to strengthen his position. But Johnson's men had only headstones in the cemetery for cover because they were reluctant to dig among the graves. Brigadier General Randall L. Gibson's Louisiana brigade was aligned to the rear of Johnson for support. These three brigades subsequently inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking Federal divisions. To the east of the cemetery was Confederate Brigadier General Alpheus Baker's Alabama brigade.
General Hooker's men attacked in columns, each division presenting only a one-brigade front. The dense woods and tangled underbrush cut by deep ditches made their attack very difficult. Federal troops nicknamed this area "The Hell Hole.” As their columns advanced Brigadier General Alpheus S. Williams ordered his division to the double quick, followed by Brigadier General John W. Geary's division. Finally, Major General Daniel Butterfield's division attacked the right of the Confederate line. As each brigade neared the foot of a slope at a trot the full force of Confederate fire greeted them. The Federals lost over 1,500 men; the Confederates fewer than 500.
A blinding summer thunderstorm struck at about 7:30 pm as the battle neared its end, compounding the misery of the wounded that lay on the field. Many unknown soldiers were buried here, both North and South. Confederate Private Sam Watkins later noted, “The trees look as if they had been cut down for new ground, being mutilated and shivered by musket and cannon balls. Horses were writhing in their death agony and the sickening odor of battle filled the air."
The Battle of New Hope Church was the first of three major battles in close proximity to one another over a four-day period. The Federals attacked again two days later, on May 27th at Pickett's Mill, in an attempt to turn the Confederates right flank.
The cemetery and former sanctuary for New
Hope Church became parts of a battlefield on
Wednesday, May 25, 1864. The Federal 20th
Corps, commanded by Major General Joseph
Hooker, attacked Confederate Major General
Alexander P. Stewart's division. Brigadier General
Marcellus A. Stovall's Georgia brigade, led that
day by Colonel Abda Johnson of the 40th
Georgia Infantry Regiment, defended this
portion of the Confederate line.
Three days earlier Union Major General
William T. Sherman began moving his armies
toward Dallas and away from their Western and
Atlantic Railroad supply line. Sherman's intent
was to march around the “left flank” of
Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's army.
General Hooker's corps was the first sizeable
Federal unit to approach the New Hope
crossroads. Sherman ordered Hooker to attack,
believing only light enemy resistance opposed
them. But the Confederates had also moved
quickly to the New Hope crossroads and were
well prepared.
The Alabama brigade of Confederate
Brigadier General Henry D. Clayton was
positioned to the east of Colonel Johnson's.
Clayton used log and dirt entrenchments to
strengthen his position. But Johnson's men had
only headstones in the cemetery for cover because
they were reluctant to dig among the graves.
Brigadier General Randall L. Gibson's
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Louisiana
brigade was aligned to the rear of Johnson for
support. These three brigades subsequently
inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking Federal
divisions. To the east of the cemetery was
Confederate Brigadier General Alpheus Baker's
Alabama brigade.
General Hooker's men attacked in columns, each
division presenting only a one-brigade front. The dense
woods and tangled underbrush cut by deep
ditches made their attack very difficult. Federal troops
nicknamed this area "The
Hell Hole.” As their columns
advanced Brigadier General
Alpheus S. Williams ordered
his division to the double quick, followed by
Brigadier General John W. Geary's division.
Finally, Major General Daniel Butterfield's
division attacked the right of the Confederate
line. As each brigade neared the foot of a slope at
a trot the full force of Confederate fire greeted
them. The Federals lost over 1,500 men; the
Confederates fewer than 500.
A blinding summer thunderstorm struck at
about 7:30 pm as the battle neared its end,
compounding the misery of the wounded that
lay on the field. Many unknown soldiers were
buried here, both North and South. Confederate
Private Sam Watkins later noted, “The trees
look as if they had been cut down for new
ground, being mutilated and shivered by
musket and cannon balls. Horses were
writhing in their death agony and
Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 19, 2019
2. New Hope Church Cemetery and Marker
the
sickening odor of battle filled the air."
The Battle of New
Hope Church was the
first of three major battles
in close proximity to one
another over a four-day
period. The Federals
attacked again two days
later, on May 27th at
Pickett's Mill, in an
attempt to turn the
Confederates right flank.
Erected by Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails, Inc. (Marker Number 20.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 25, 1864.
Location. 33° 57.469′ N, 84° 47.43′ W. Marker is near Dallas, Georgia, in Paulding County. Marker is at the intersection of Chester Harris Drive and Dallas Acworth Highway (Georgia Route 381), on the right when traveling west on Chester Harris Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Chester Harris Drive, Dallas GA 30132, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 24, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 552 times since then and 100 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 24, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
